Some concrete examples of the use of historical materials in developing certain topics from precalculus and calculus are presented. Ideas which can be introduced with a reformulated curriculum are discussed in five areas: algorithms, combinatorics, logarithms, trigonometry, and mathematical models. (MNS)

Concern is expressed that trigonometry is being de-emphasized at the secondary level, and that even incoming college students with excellent mathematics backgrounds and aptitudes appear to be "drawing blanks" on even the most fundamental trigonometric concepts. Teaching trigonometry as the ultimate high school subject is promoted. (MP)

Precalculus and Discrete Mathematics (PDM) is the sixth and final course in the secondary mathematics curriculum developed by the University of Chicago (Illinois) School Mathematics Project. During the 1989-90 academic year, a formative evaluation of the third field-trial edition of PDM was conducted among a volunteer sample of 9 high schools with…

Evidence on the decline in preparation of entering calculus students and the relationship to high school preparation is presented, focusing on the trend toward the de-emphasis of trigonometry and analytic geometry in favor of calculus. Data on students' perception of the adequacy of their preparation are also presented. (Author/MN)

This review guide, prepared as an aid to teachers of Course III, starts with a pre-test review of Course II topics found again in Course III. The five units of Course III, as outlined in the New York State Syllabus, are then separated into nine smaller units. These include: real numbers; complex numbers; functions; logarithms; trigonometry;…

The two sections found in this publication, "Integrating Computer Literacy With Existing Classes" and "Guide to Computer Augmented Trigonometry," were written by participants in two summer courses at the University of Oregon. The first section addresses the general topic of teaching computer literacy through existing classes,…

The computer has enormous potential for enhancing the secondary trigonometry curriculum. Areas that can be improved through use of the computer include: solutions of triangles, inductive investigations of functions, graphs of functions, and solution of trigonometric identities. (JN)

This issue of "Indicator of the Month" lists percentages of high school graduates taking selected mathematics and science courses in high school in 1982, 1987, 1990, and 1992. Findings include: (1) High school graduates in 1992 were more likely to take mathematics courses at the level of algebra I or higher and most science courses at the level of…

Presents a method of viewing the reflective properties of the parabola and ellipse. Reinforces previously studied concepts of mathematics useful for individual or classroom projects. (PK)

This article presents some of the optics and mathematics related to what causes a rainbow, why it is brighter inside than out, and why more than one rainbow may appear. (PK)

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) has published three documents that propose standards related to mathematics education called "The Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics" (1989), "The Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics" (1991), and "The Assessment Standards for School Mathematics" (1995). The…

This project was coordinated and funded by the California Partnership for Achieving Student Success (Cal-PASS). Cal-PASS is a data sharing system linking all segments of education. Its purpose is to improve student transition and success from one educational segment to the next. Cal-PASS' math deconstruction projects were initiated by the faculty…

This project was coordinated and funded by the California Partnership for Achieving Student Success (Cal-PASS). Cal-PASS is a data sharing system linking all segments of education. Its purpose is to improve student transition and success from one educational segment to the next. Cal-PASS' standards deconstruction project was initiated by the…

This guide was prepared as an instructional aid for teachers of a first-year course in Algebra. It was designed to be applicable to the wide range of Algebra 1 programs being offered in the junior and senior high schools. In this guide, the content of the Algebra 1 program has been divided into 11 major units, each unit organized around student…

This is the teacher's edition of a text for the first year of a two-year high school geometry course. The course bases plane and solid geometry and trigonometry on the fact that the translations of a Euclidean space constitute a vector space which has an inner product. Volume 1 deals largely with affine geometry, and the notion of dimension is…